Saban: Fluker, Jones hurt against SC

Alabama receiver Julio Jones broke his left hand against South Carolina and his status for the eighth-ranked Crimson Tide's game Saturday against Mississippi is uncertain.

Right tackle D.J. Fluker has a groin injury and will miss at least a week, coach Nick Saban said.

Saban said Monday that Jones was injured in the first half of Alabama's 35-21 loss at South Carolina and had surgery Sunday to have a plate and screw inserted.

"Nobody really knew it was broken," Saban said. "He did it in the first half and played the entire game with it. The prognosis for it is as soon as he can tolerate using his hand — which will be the palm of his hand — he's cleared to play. That may be three or four days, it may be a week, I don't know. On Wednesday, we'll probably assess where he is and kind of go from there.

"He obviously played the whole game with it. It may or may not be an issue, but we can't really tell right now."

Jones still had probably his best game of the season, catching eight passes for 118 yards — both season highs. He is leading the team with 32 catches for 440 yards and three touchdowns.

"He's a warrior. He'll be back," Tide quarterback Greg McElroy said. "He's going to give his best effort to get back on the field as soon as possible."

Fluker, meanwhile, appears unlikely to play against the Rebels and possibly at Tennessee. Saban described the 6-foot-6, 330-pound redshirt freshman as having "a pretty severe groin injury that will probably keep him out at least a week, maybe longer."

Fluker has started the first six games after arriving last fall as one of the Tide's top recruits.

"He's made tremendous improvements from spring to now," tailback Mark Ingram said. "He's been a vital part of our offensive line. He's been doing a great job. His presence will be missed, definitely."

Saban said Alfred McCullough will probably start at right tackle against the Rebels.